Some Parenting Tricks & Halloween Treats

Happy Friday and congrats to Laura, the winner of the Elissa Hudson giveaway! If you didn’t win but would still like a print of your own, Elissa is generously offering 15% off. Just visit her shop and enter the code TAKE15 when checking out.

I’m so glad I decided to poll you guysthis week. Not only have your responses been overwhelmingly supportive, they’ve confirmed that we’re all on the same page here and I can’t wait to start weaving a little more substance into all the activities and creativity. In fact, I thought I’d start today. How do two crafts with a few parenting reads sandwiched in-between sound?

First up, craft #1. Remember how I mentioned in my DIY costume post that I’d be whipping up half of C’s outfit using this tutorial? Turns out “whipping up” was a bit (OK a lot) optimistic for this very novice sewer. The problem wasn’t the tutorial, it was great, the problem is I am, by nature, a very impatient person. I don’t have time for things like making sure my lines are straight or my straps are long enough. Ironically, this need for speed inevitably leads to the project taking much longer than necessary because I have to fix lots of silly mistakes.

Oh well, that’s just me – I’ve come to terms with it. Despite (and because of) all that, I finally made C’s dino tail last night. It only took me ’till 1am to finish. The straps are a little wonky, to say the least, and I’m exhausted today but I’m pretty darn proud of myself too. Plus C loves it, imperfections and all, which is what matters anyway.

So onto the parenting stuff. I’ve been reading lots of great posts online lately. Here, in no particular order, are my current favorites:

An illuminating post all about why (and how) you should let your kids get bored. Destri decided three months ago to truly let it happen for two whole hours a day. Needless to say, it was hard (really hard) and she learned a lot.

Sneak peek: “Too many people are uncomfortable with idle time and I am left to wonder if it starts at a very young age?… I believe kids are born with a powerful imagination, and often the things we introduce into their little lives slowly strip them of that… After the initial shock of “our mother no longer loves us, and lets us be bored”wore off, they genuinely started to use their imaginations to entertain themselves. One thing they started were puppet shows. Which is funny, because we don’t have any puppets.”

Do you ever not have people over simply because the thought of cleaning the house is too exhausting? I do. This post is helping me get over it.

Sneak peek: “I know I’m not the only one who struggles with these blood-sucking, joy-stealing thoughts: Is it clean enough? Will they see the piles in the corner?… We’re so worried about ourselves, and what others think, that it absolutely ruins us. Most of the time, people aren’t even thinking about us, they’re thinking of themselves and their own insecurities.”

A moving essay by the mother of a terminally ill child which drives home the point that we will all eventually have to let our children go. Brought me to tears.

Sneak peek: “Ronan won’t prosper or succeed in the way we have come to understand this term in our culture; he will never walk or say “Mama,” and I will never be a tiger mom… We are dragon parents: fierce and loyal and loving as hell. Our experiences have taught us how to parent for the here and now, for the sake of parenting, for the humanity implicit in the act itself.”

Last but not least, I’ve got one more craft for you over at momtastic this week. These DIY luminaries are 50% art project, 50% Halloween decor and 100% toddler friendly.

P.S. Looking for more ways to simplify and save time so you can connect with your family? Follow these 3 steps: